Audio stuttering and slow overall computer performance

Hi all, unfortunately this is not the way I'd like to do my first post, but this is a copy of an email I have just sent to the Dell Support site. Hopefully by posting this here as well I can double the chances of getting a solution.

 

During the weekend of the 7-9th of December this year, I have suddenly begun to experience frustrating problems with my Inspiron 6400. The problems I am having are, and please excuse me as I try and explain to the best of my ability what is happening. Thankyou in advance for wading through all that follows..

1,  VERY slow bootup process, remaining on the Windows Xp screen for well over a minute, black for 30-40 seconds before an equal amount of time spent on the 'Welcome' screen before another lengthy time spent on just my desktop background before the desktop icons appear and the icon tray programmes begin to load.
2, Seemingly escessive amount of fan use. I am unsure whether this is the cpu or video card fan. Fan use during bootup and near constant during application programme use.
3, Control panel view of CPU usage seems to show more than expected waveform spikes when idle. Dual view of CPU graphs (dual core both cpus), the left graph seem to be constantly spiking near the top of the graph whilst the right shows nominal activity. This is happening when the CPU usage pecentage ranges from 0 to around 60%ish. Right graph spikes heavily when programmes are used. (Average amount of processes shown via the control panel is around 58-60)   Although I have notice that in the past day or so, if left unattended for a while these graphs tend to flatten out with nominal movement as opposed to heavy spiking.
4, Relatively slow application start time compare to before the stated time of these problems begining. Laggy open window minimising and when the windows are dragged across screen the movements are jerky and not smooth. Especially when two or more windows are open. Lag in programmes if more then one is open (eg photoshop and Daz studio or Bryce - 3d graphic programmes).
5, Audio stuttering and distortion with Windows Starting jingle, and often other windows based sounds such as error dings. Audio skipping when playing video files in windows media player, divx player and real player - same file played in each player with similar results. When running games (eg Hellgate London) audio is distorted and stuttering constatny from the begining of the game. Game speed is also noticably reduced compared to before and game loading times are increased.
6, Mouse can occasionally lag in movement, freezing then reappearing to the point where the mouse pointer should be. Problem occurs with both touchpad and external mouse.
7, Only have dialup internet at home as I only rarely use the laptop for internet purposes - but recent attempts have had a very distorted and stuttering dialtone, problems with timing out and inability to connect to the Dell and Microsoft sites.

Below are segments of a DxDiag from the 15th of December showing my system specs and installed hard/software for evaluation.

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System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/15/2007, 08:34:05
       Machine name: DCS7TP1S
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp.051011-1528)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
       System Model: MM061                          
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A17
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU         T5300  @ 1.73GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 419MB used, 3520MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found. DirectDraw test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 7 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 8 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 9 test results: All tests were successful.
        Sound Tab 1: DirectSound test results: All tests were successful.
          Music Tab: DirectMusic test results: All tests were successful.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found. DirectPlay test results: The tests were cancelled before completing.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce Go 7300
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D7&SUBSYS_20031028&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8469 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 5/1/2006 15:46:00, 3976704 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 5/1/2006 15:46:00, 3653280 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4297-11CF-8D52-090000C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x01D7
        SubSys ID: 0x20031028
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.
 D3D9 Test Result: All tests were successful.

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Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SigmaTel Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7690&SUBSYS_102801BD&REV_1022
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.5515.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 5/10/2007 10:24:34, 1222840 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: SigmaTel
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xB5B
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 44100, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: All tests were successful.

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: SigmaTel Audio
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.5515.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 5/10/2007 10:24:34, 1222840 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xCC0

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
        DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
     DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
    Acceleration: n/a
           Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
                  Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
        Registry: OK
     Test Result: All tests were successful.

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 32.6 GB
Total Space: 147.3 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: SAMSUNG HM160JI

      Drive: D:
      Model: TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS-L632D
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.2180 (English), 8/3/2004 21:00:00, 49536 bytes

I have gone through many forum pages both here at the Dell site and others in an attempt to divine what's happening. The possibilities that seem to fit the symptoms of my laptop are faulty Sigmatel audio or video drivers for the Nvidia Geforce 7300.  Possibly heat issues for the cpu or a virus, However:

 

1, Downloaded drivers from Dell downloads section for Nvidia video card and Sigmatel codecs. No change.
2, Ran antivirus scans with a negative result.
3, Ran Adaware programme with a negative result.
4, Ran DxDiag which shows all things are correct.
5, Tried changing levels of hardware acceleration on video and sound devices without a change.
6, Tried doing reboots using MSCONFIG and safe mode, but not really sure how to actually use these reboots to diagnose problems.
7, Tried doing a restore point roll back to a point before the beginning of these problems without change.
8, Tried restoring files from a Seagate external drive to a period before these problems without change.
9, Downloaded and used Process Explorer to aid in checking if any programmes were draining resources beyond what they should. No obvious problems.
10, Checked GPU core temp from Nvidia control panel. Average temps range from 54-60deg.
11, Cannot find cpu overclocking options also supposedly found under the Nvidia control panel but can't be found under any of the selections.
12, Running a disk defrag but not expecting much as the harddrive was defragged not long before these problems.
13, banged my head against the wall, swore and shouted at the laptop without result. strangely enough:)

 

I am unsure what to try next. I would have assumed if the problem was driver related new downloaded drivers do nothing and surprisingly doing the rollback and restore have had no effect. So possibly a hardwar issue? The more I read these forums the more I get confused about similar symptoms but the solutions seem to have no effect.

 

PLEASE HELP!! :(